Henry Borrell

Henry Borrell

A rare and important gilt bronze quarter striking singing bird musical automaton clock with seven tunes made for the Chinese market, Signed Henry Borrell, the automata attributed to Jaquet Droz, Swiss, Circa 1810

Henry Borrell

珍稀及重要鍍金銅製二問鳥鳴音樂活動人偶座鐘，備七款為中國市場而製的樂韻，由 Henry Borrell 署名，活動人偶應出自 Jaquet Droz，瑞士製，約1810年製

The Case: 

modelled as an octagonal bird cage, raised on bud-form feet, the base panels applied by gilt bronze foliate swags and trophies of music, supported by eight palm trees, with pineapple form finials, all surmounted by a dome crowned by the upper automaton, with rebuilt automaton utilizing the original mechanism with later polychrome vase of flowers.

The Mechanisms: the base fitted with a substantial two train fusee driven quarter and hour striking clock with verge escapement and balance, the movement signed Hy. Borrell, initiating singing bird/musical movement with bellows, a pinned brass barrel playing one of seven tunes on ten pipes at the hour or at will, the same cylinder causing the feathered bird to perform, whereby the bird realistically flaps its wings, flutters its tail, opens and closes its beak to the time of the musical notes, all while swiveling nearly 360 degrees, simultaneously the separate vase of flowers revolves above the mechanisms for the bird, music and clockwork visible beneath the pierced grill floor, the separate mechanism for the vase automata concealed within the dome,

the underside of the base fitted with the following levers controlling the automata and music:

far left- automata activation at will, far right- tune change for choice of seven melodies, middle-play/silentbird wound through an arbor at rear right panel, winding arbor for regulator lower left of dial

Dial: 2 ½- inch white enamel dial with roman numerals, the striking and going trains wound through the dial

Accompanied by photocopies of Garrard’s 1988 invoice, description and drawing with labelled schematic detailing the various winding holes and levers

Height Size: 61 cm height